Massaciuccoli Fish Festival

The historic festival of Lake Massaciuccoli

The Massaciuccoli Fish Festival is the oldest gastronomic event in the Massarosa area, in the province of Lucca, in the heart of northern Tuscany. The first edition dates back to 1971, when it was launched by the local blood donor group, then in its early stages. Since then, the festival has become deeply rooted in the community's life, becoming one of the most anticipated events of the Versilia spring.

The festival takes place in the village of Massaciuccoli, overlooking the lake of the same name, one of the most important wetlands in Tuscany and part of the Migliarino San Rossore Massaciuccoli Regional Park. The venue is the Centro Polivalente Il Coccobrillo, on Via Pietra a Padule, where food stalls and the music stage come alive every evening.

Lake and sea cuisine

The highlight of the Fish Festival is its menu, which combines freshwater specialties from the lake with those from the nearby Versilia sea, just a few kilometers away. Dishes served at the stalls include:

• Seafood appetizers and marinated salt cod
• Penne alla trabaccolara and tench risotto
• Cacciucco and mixed fried shrimp and squid
• King prawn catalana, fried eels, and fried frogs
• Tuscan cold cuts, vegetarian options, and roast beef with sides
• Strawberry ice cream for dessert

Fried eels and frogs, in particular, evoke the ancient gastronomic tradition linked to the lake's waters.

Music, entertainment, and nature

Every evening of the festival features at least one musical act, including dance orchestras, live bands, and DJ sets, with space for ballroom and folk dancing. For children, there are play areas and attractions such as pedal kart races. The event is organized by the Gruppo Fratres Massaciuccoli in collaboration with the Massaciuccoli LIPU Oasis, which offers guided tours, boat excursions in the nature reserve, and creative workshops. Nearby, visitors can also explore the Archaeological Museum of Massaciuccoli and the Roman baths area.

A spring appointment in the Municipality of Massarosa

Spread over three weekends between the second half of April and early May, coinciding with the late April holidays and May Day, the Fish Festival is much more than a food event: it is a village celebration that brings together volunteers and visitors from all over Versilia and the Lucca area, in a setting of great natural charm. It is an opportunity to discover the authentic flavors of Lake Massaciuccoli and the conviviality of a community that has kept this tradition alive for over half a century.